23rd Annual Rice Design Alliance Gala

Hilton Americas-Houston

Nov 14th, 2009 at 7:00 PM

The Rice Design Alliance Gala always gathers a fun and diverse crowd of architecture and design enthusiasts, architects, design professionals, engineers, contractors, developers, and RDA members. This year's gala ...

Non-profit honors

Barbara Bush event takes lead award

By Shelby Hodge

Nov 13th, 2009 at 1:45 PM

Former First Lady Barbara Bush accepted honors Wednesday for her "Celebration of Reading" benefit as the Outstanding Fundraising Program of the year at the National Philanthropy Day awards luncheon held ...

Intelligent Must-See TV

Beyond the glam galas: A Profile of the real Phoebe Tudor

By Sarah Rufca

Jul 29th, 2010 at 1:11 PM

"I wanted to get behind the facade a little bit, get behind the party picture," says Profile host Greg Scheinman of this week's sit-down with Phoebe Tudor (10:30 ...

Shelby's Social Diary

A little night music sings for Houstonians still at play in Nantucket

By Shelby Hodge

Aug 17th, 2010 at 11:41 AM

"It was a superbly beautiful evening." So e-mails Franci Crane from her summer home in Nantucket where more than a few Houstonians are escaping the torrid temps of August. She ...

Eureka! A Houston building is preserved

"Hard Hat Tea" shows off sparkling library restoration

By Clifford Pugh

Jan 25th, 2010 at 1:03 PM

Saturday's gathering at the Houston Public Library's Julia Ideson Building was billed as a "Hard Hat Tea," but none of the prominent attendees, including Barbara Bush, Andrea White ...

Recognition Opportunities

The name game: Houston Ballet's new Center of Dance is a who's who of arts supporters

By Shelby Hodge

Aug 2nd, 2010 at 10:26 AM

When Houston Ballet moves from its scruffy home on West Gray next spring, the company will be ensconced in a majestic monument to dance — and to those who support it ...

Shelby's Social Diary

Buttoned-up image is a goner

By Shelby Hodge

Nov 17th, 2009 at 11:09 AM

Don't let the investment banker moniker fool you. Bobby Tudor, Tudor Pickering & Holt CEO, can shake his booty. Just ask the the 250 guests at his 50th birthday bash ...

The slow-reading movement

Winging it at the Julia Ideson

By Steven Thomson

Apr 14th, 2010 at 8:03 AM

Preservationists are rejoicing over the unveiling of downtown's latest urban gem: a new archival wing for the historic Julia Ideson Library and an adjacent reading garden. The debut represents ...

Shelby About Town

Texans QB Matt Schaub dons an apron for charity, Bobby Tudor gets on the field in a week of partying

By Shelby Hodge

Sep 3rd, 2010 at 1:14 PM

We love it when those hulking pro athletes trade in their uniforms and helmets for serving trays and dainty aprons in the name of a worthy cause. So we applaud ...

Shelby About Town

Houstonians still on the move as M.D. Anderson visits Nantucket and local diners keep feasting

By Shelby Hodge

Aug 10th, 2010 at 11:09 AM

Hydrangeas! How we love hydrangeas. And do they grow anywhere more profusely than in Nantucket in summer? But I digress. The point here was that hydrangeas were in full flower ...

Shelby's Social Diary

Lynn Wyatt, Lester Smith among local celebs dancing with the stars Houston style

By Shelby Hodge

Jun 4th, 2010 at 3:02 PM

I don't recall seeing social phenom Lynn Wyatt spin around the dance floor much at the black-tie galas where she is such an icon. Phoebe Tudor occasionally. But I ...

OSCAR TOUCHES HOUSTON

Real-life trio from The Blind Side charm Houston audience

By Clifford Pugh

Mar 4th, 2010 at 4:29 PM

Sunday night is going to be special for Leigh Anne Tuohy. She's going to the Oscars. "Write about how big my boobs look in the dress or something like ...

The Good News

Greg Scheinman's Profile comes to CultureMap

By Sarah Rufca

Apr 14th, 2010 at 10:12 PM

If you want to know how to be a success, talk to people who are successful. That was Greg Scheinman's thinking, at least. Fresh off selling his children's ...

Shelby's Social Diary

And the Best Dressed honorees are…

By Shelby Hodge

Jan 19th, 2010 at 8:23 PM

The guessing game starts in earnest each fall and reaches a fever pitch as the new year settles in. Who will be on the Houston Chronicle Best Dressed list? It ...

Shelby about town

Big oil mixes with big money

By Shelby Hodge

Nov 10th, 2009 at 6:00 AM

ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson took time out last week from running the No. 1 Fortune 500 company and educating Congress on the energy business to chat with local heavy-hitters at ...

Out of this world

Symphony patrons hit high notes with Carnegie Hall celebrations

By Shelby Hodge

Jan 30th, 2010 at 12:05 AM

Champagne toasts flowed in the Rohatyn Room of Carnegie Hall Thursday night when Houston Symphony patrons celebrated the orchestra's New York presentation of The Planets — An HD Odyssey.  As ...

Shelby's Social Diary

NYC social scribe Derek Blasberg schmoozes his way through Houston

By Shelby Hodge

Jun 9th, 2010 at 3:15 PM

Another dandy author in book-signing mode has swept through town in the embrace of hostess Becca Cason Thrash.  Following not quite on the heels of Hamish Bowles' colorful visit here ...

Shelby About Town

Name game: Our CultureMap poet laureate offers a New Year toast

By Shelby Hodge

Jan 1st, 2010 at 12:00 AM

One decade is over, a new one begins. It's time to take stock of our CultureMap friends. You're generous. You're funny. And smart as can be. We ...

Shelby About Town

Dan Aykroyd set to stir up the Orange Show's Art Car Parade

By Shelby Hodge

Mar 9th, 2010 at 6:00 AM

Comedian Dan Aykroyd is about to add one more imaginative role to his credits — that of  Grand Marshal of the Houston Art Car Parade. Forget Blues Brothers, Ghost Busters and ...

Shelby About Town

Houston Symphony fans take a fun bite out of the Big Apple

By Shelby Hodge

Jan 29th, 2010 at 12:00 AM

Life has been rich for the Houston contingent culturally trekking through New York City in recent days in celebration of the Houston Symphony's Thursday night performance of The Planets ...